Jimmy G Breaks The Bank; Sets Market for Other Veteran QBs

HOUSTON, TX – DECEMBER 10: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with general manager John Lynch after the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Incase you hadn’t yet heard, the San Francisco 49ers locked up their young franchise QB Jimmy Garoppolo to a reported 5-year deal worth $137.5 million that includes $74 million guaranteed. The former backup to the legend Tom Brady just signed the richest contract in NFL history on a per-year basis.

This deal sets the market for the rest of the NFL off-season, first with soon-to-be free agent Kirk Cousins then New Orleans Saints Drew Brees and soon after Atlanta Falcons Matt Ryan and Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers. It’s a great time to be a top-tier NFL Quarterback.

Jimmy went 5-0 as a starter with SF after the trade from New England for a 2018 second round pick. The 49ers had the worst offense in league before he got there, and were top five across several offensive categories over the final five weeks of the season. Garoppolo is 7-0 overall as a starter including two wins with NE while Brady was suspended.

This whole exchange worked out perfectly for San Francisco. It was your classic trial before pay. It’s why you test drive your car before the purchase. Jimmy G shredded some of best defenses in NFL like Jacksonville. He showed to be a calm, composed and intelligent leader of men. He meshed with teammates right away. Garoppolo was precise in making quick decisions and displaying pinpoint accuracy. That’s why John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan didn’t mess around in locking up their guy after trading for him during the season. “We feel like we have our guy now,” Lynch said today.

Bill Belichick knew what he had in Garoppolo and had no choice but to move on before he hit the market this off-season. He’s a stud, handsome franchise QB that can lead San Francisco for the better part of the decade. That’s why he got paid like this, Garoppolo just set the market for elite franchise QBs this off-season.

The 49ers have the money and cap space and Lynch’s “brick by brick” approach just took a next level step by locking up his franchise QB. The first and second levels are already built of the mansion, now they just need to furnish and surround it with talent to make it stand out. “I knew I wanted to be here, and it got figured out pretty quickly,” Garoppolo said during the announcement of his new deal.

Jimmy G just broke the bank and set the market, and he’s going to be worth every penny of the deal. Franchise QB’s don’t come cheap.